Why do people like hard corals and stuff?

[Anonymous]

Er, allow me to elucidate.

I don't think they really look like dead sticks, but do you see the metaphor there? The hard, branching shapes of stony corals remind me of trees in the winter, without their leaves. I guess the colors in SPS corals don't impress me as much as the ugly shapes disappoint me. When I look at the flowing, mushy, weirdball form of shrroms and leathers and even LPS ... my eyes appreciate the softness of it.

*shrug* To each his pwn. I was just curious about other ppl's opinions.

 

[Anonymous]

Its not just the color, its also the growth.

 

[wade1]

hey, wade ... what about this:

Gotta love it when it starts that way!

Actually, I sorta doubt it will work too well. What you are actually feeding is a mixed culture of algae and chlorophyll... And trying to grow microalgal cultures on tank water never works due to contaminating organisms... ideally you would grow the algae on f/2 media (read fertilizer) and then separate it (placing it in the cold for 24 hours help, then you pour off the top 3/4 of the liquid) before feeding it.

I'm betting you could even create a good foodsource out of phyto, meaty foods, etc that you could blend into a pulp and feed twice a day. But then it becomes a huge draw of time and energy to feed that often.

Wade

 

[Chooch]

I find SPS corals easy to keep as long as their needs are met i.e. strong light, strong water movement, high calcium and alkalinity, clean water, etc. Personally, I find purely SPS tanks to be somewhat stark and static with just blocks of calcium carbonate. I prefer a mixed reef with SPS, LPS and softies/leathers with alot of colorful fish. This to me reflects the true diversity of the reef with abundant color and movement. Fortunately, this hobby accomodates many preferences.

 

[Anonymous]

*applauding* well put Dan

 

[EmilyB]

I like corals that move.

However, I am wanting some colonies so I can keep acro crabs, gobies, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Its not just the color, its also the growth.

ditto.

the growth pattern of SPS will vary given the conditions.
for instance an acropora in a low flow system may appear very delicate or complex, but if you were to take the same coral and put it in a high flow tank you could get a stumpy finger like growth and/or it may lose all it's complexity and adapt a more sturdy simple appearance.

i have had montipora caps that will grow in table growth and encrusting montiporas that will grow in tables. things tend to table in my tanks for unknown reasons.

when shopping for sps frags you really never know what you might end up with at home. i think every possible visual aspect of the sps i have purchased have changed to some degree after establishing them in my aquarium.
i don't particularly like softies. they are too brown and tend to overgrow an appealing look.. this is my opinion of course.
like Dan said, i also like a mixed tank but really prefer an LPS like ancora or closed brain corals. i really like the patterns of platygyra and favids.

IMO, Xenia and anthelia are cool softies. they provide lots of motion that add contrast along with the glitterlines of an SPS tank, but i admit that anemones are a more colorful option. i prefer both...
of course we will all keep in mind that not every tank is suitable for anemones and i realize that many woudn't place one in an SPS tank at all.

 

[Unarce]

This is just one of those things that could go back and forth forever. You could prefer beer or wine, blondes or brunettes, rock n' roll or country, Christina or Britney, pitching or catching (didn't want to leave anyone out) :wink: .

One things for sure.....we all love reefkeeping!

 

[Anonymous]

Less filling

 

[rabagley]

I like variety and hard corals add some variety to my tank. But those three colonies are in addition to varied sponges, ascidians, feather dusters, macroalgae, a few gorgonians, two big softies and a carpet anenome.

For the same reason (variety, or lack of it), I don't really enjoy looking at tanks packed to the gills with dozens upon dozens of hard coral colonies. Those tanks just seem so... planned... No colony bigger than a volleyball, spaced out and fitted in so that they are just far enough apart to not attack each other's edges. I've seen growout tanks that I personally found more interesting.

To each his own, however. My tank is the only one that I make the choices for and that's a good thing. I've learned a lot from people who've made different choices and I'm happy with them when their tanks are great and sad with them when things don't go well.

Regards,
Ross